Phaedra opens with Hippolytus, son of Theseus and stepson of Phaedra, setting off on a hunt. He prefers the woods to the palace, and invokes Diana, goddess of the hunt, to help his luck. After his departure, Phaedra appears, racked with despair. Her wet-nurse inquires what it is that ails her; Phaedra confesses that she is in love with Hippolytus, and recalls her own mother Pasiphae’s lust for a bull – a lust that gave birth to the infamous Minotaur, which Theseus himself slew. She claims she is cursed by Venus, who is angry against Apollo, Phaedra’s ancestor, for having exposed Venus’ love for Mars.

The nurse pleads to Phaedra to control her passion and check her emotions, but it is no use. Phaedra speaks of herself as though of a ship…

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• Phaedra Summary
• About Phaedra
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• Major Themes
• Summary and Analysis of Section I: Lines 1 - 423
• Summary and Analysis of Section II: Lines 424 - 834
• Summary and Analysis of Section III: Lines 835 - 1280
• Heroic Mythology in Greco-Roman Drama
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